How to Soften and Clean Your Paintbrushes

Artists and crafts people know the importance of taking care of their tools. If an emergency arises, however, it isn’t always possible to properly clean up.

When you’ve accidentally left paint in your paintbrushes you may think they are ruined. The following are some suggestions on how to soften and clean your paintbrushes which will make them usable again.

Many artists and painters have solvents such as turpentine or mineral spirit to aid in cleaning paintbrushes while they are painting. While these solvents do a good job, they are flammable and can be hazardous to have around.

Wouldn’t it be great if you knew how to soften and clean your paintbrushes without having to worry about the solvents you normally use?

Water soluble paint isn’t such a concern because the craft paint and brushes clean up easily with water. Oil points, however, require soaking the paintbrush in turpentine.

No matter what type of paint you are using, the manufacturer will provide instructions as to the best method to clean the brushes.

However, on those occasions when you can’t follow the manufacturer’s instructions and you fear your brush is ruined, there are non-hazardous alternative solutions available.

One method is to use simple distilled white vinegar.

Most people have cooking pots they no longer use regularly but they consider them too good to toss out. Here’s a perfect way to get use out of those pots!

Place the brushes which need to be cleaned in the pot. Then pour enough white distilled vinegar to cover the bristles about one-fourth of the way up the pot.

The more room there is around the brushes, the better this will work.

Allow the brushes to stay in the vinegar for a couple of hours. Next turn the burner on low-medium. You don’t want the vinegar to boil but only to become hot. This will help loosen the hardened paint.

Finish cleaning the paintbrushes by running them under hot water and using your hands to remove the paint.

Another method of cleaning paintbrushes and softening the bristles which may seem unusual but which is said to work well is to use liquid fabric softener. This method is best used when the paint is fairly fresh.

Pour the fabric softener in a tall can and then put the brushes, bristles down, into the softener.

Allow the brushes to remain in the softener for at least ten minutes, but they can be left up to overnight. Remove the brushes and clean as usual.

You can also use a similar method of cleaning for brushes which have been used for painting with acrylics or painting a canvas with gesso. This time, however, use hair conditioner.

When you’re ready to clean your brushes, take them out of the conditioner and clean as usual.

It is possible to soften and clean your brushes in a way which isn’t hazardous. By using non-traditional methods you can keep your brushes in good repair and ready for your next painting project.

There are lots of creative and fun craft ideas for the whole family in our main section here, so just check out Arts and Crafts for Kids.

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